As expected, my final day of New York Fashion Week: Men's was pretty bittersweet as I have never really been fond of the idea of leaving New York...ever. Due to my academic responsibilities in North Carolina, I was forced to cut my fashion week short. Nonetheless, I did enjoy myself thoroughly and experienced some awesome collections from some pretty talented & uber-creative menswear designers. I would like to thank every one of the PR agencies + designers who sent me invitations to these presentations & runway shows. You all have afforded me some truly life-changing experiences.

YOU AS paid homage to Route 66 & the innate style that comes from being an avid car-driver out west.

The place was filled with smoke accompanied by a mixture of red, blue, and purple lights shining on the clothes. This effect proved to be quite magical and went perfectly with the designer's theme. 

Studded leather jackets, denim, graphic (race-car paraphernalia) t-shirts, jumpsuits, silk pajama shirts, Hawaiian-print details, and sunglasses paired with each and every look evoked the perfect cool. 

LANDLORD's Spring/Summer 2018 collection went down in the history books for me. Not only was it my first time sitting front row, 'twas my first runway show where every single model was of color.

With reggae and early 2000's hip-hop culture inspired get-ups, I was pleased with the designer's ability to recollect the way a vast majority of my peers in urban areas dressed growing up.

The collection was beautiful and featured clothing that I am sure many of my high school and college classmates here in North Carolina would simply die to get their hands on. 

 I was also absolutely thrilled that the highly respected and quite legendary underwear and swimwear designers Parke Lutter and Ronen Jehezkel invited me to attend their 20-year anniversary runway show. 

This magnificent moment in the history of menswear celebrated all of the looks from the designers' successful career all while featuring very wearable pieces for any & every occasion next summer. 

Clusters of models with bodies that seemed as if God carved them himself paraded down the runway in swimwear that is sure to last a lifetime. At the very end, the designers kissed each other and bowed to their loyal flock of fashion followers. Cheers to 20 more years of success!

Last but not least, Matiere's 'Reflections' Run of Show proved to be the perfect ending to a wonderful week of menswear...with complimentary cocktails + hors-d'oeuvres to top it all off. The presentation, taking place at Cadillac House, started off with an energetic and dynamic performance by Alonzo King LINES Ballet & Martha Graham Dance Company that set the entire tone for the show. 

As the performance ended, very fluid and reassuring garments graced the runway in a wide range of crisp, cool, colors, fabrics, and brocades to evoke an unmatched freshness and West-meets-East sensibility.

My faves were this ecru two-piece set (pictured above) and these crazy cool cross-body bags (below). 

I started my day with the new 'Gustav Von Aschenbach' line debuted by my absolute favorite Mr. Robert Geller. Mr. Geller continued his use of extraordinary color and topped it all off with the use of exquisite patterns, accessories, and overcoats that kept me intrigued throughout his rotating doors of looks. 

This season was my first time seeing a Carlos Campos runway show in person, and I must say that I was blown away by the groundbreaking cuts and colors of this collection. 

The most beautiful blue tones one can think of accompanied by chic black and white shoes + accessories. The Carlos Campos red of this season affirmed that RED will be Huge next summer overall. Even if it's not, I'll be wearing it anyway to simply pay homage.

N-p-Elliott was also a collection in which I was extremely happy to have been given the chance to attend. The clothes were bold, just, and overall a brilliant execution of the designer's imagination. 

This perfectly pink parachute piece stole the show for me and many others. That kind of drape and drama is sure to satisfy my soul. This could be an extraordinary editorial moment. I'm ecstatic to have lived in that moment and witnessed it then.

Finally, for this season Death to Tennis presented a collection with an atmosphere that was nowhere near the magic of Autumn/Winter 2017's. Nonetheless, the clothes and the overall message of the collection was presented clearly and concisely.

As a reaction to the impact that social media and technology have on our daily lives, the brand placed giant mirrors in the space in which models looked at themselves and in their phones, snapping selfies of themselves and sharing their IG accounts with the press. I thought this collection was a real treat and a healthy reminder of the influence that social media plays in our day to day life.

...And finally, I saw Raf Simons' Spring/Summer 2018 collection (even if it was only of the models passing by from the far side of the street). I saw the collection as it happened and in the ambiance that was intended - a Chinese alley in Brooklyn (tying everything in with this season's ongoing theme of travel for me). It was here that I met legendary black fashion journalist of the Washington Post, Robin Givhan (who has attended haute couture and RTW runway shows across seasons and cities abroad, written "The Battle of Versailles," and said that she liked my brooch as I showed her directions of where she should enter the show). I also met Marc Jacobs - who honestly needs no introduction. When I said hello to him he replied, "Um...Hi...Yea" yet I still had to pinch myself.

For the second half of the New York Men's Day shows from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, several designers continued to lure me into their imaginations of what men's fashion can mean today. 

Private Policy gave cowboy western Americana a facelift in the name of New York cool. 

The ensembles incorporated rich + colorful classic cowboy pieces with risqué and edgy details...

"The aesthetics of the collection are inspired by deviant yet fashion obsessed MODs of the mid 60's who broke new ground by making it acceptable for males to dress purely for show." 

Maiden Noir entitled this season's collection Return to Stone Garden, featuring a healthy mix of "muted colors with splashes of bright and crisp fabrics complemented by soft washed out garments." 

...& much like last season, he brought back my signature black loafer + sock combo. Can't get enough. 

The atmosphere that the designer behind R. Swiader created with his exceptional taste in electronic house music paired with wonderfully curated graphics and posh looks was definitely the highlight of my entire day.

The pieces are for the brave and chic and are sure to shake up any event when worn out on the town. 

The designer stayed true to his Polish roots while creating cutting-edge clothes for a global audience. 

Julius Juul designed this "P.T.C.S." collection with an individual dealing with Post War Existential Crisis in mind. The NYMD guests entered the world of Heliot Emil through this plastic overlay.

Mr. Juul mixed the "formality and discipline of the military with the carefree attitude of a lost mind."

Excellent craftsmanship and use of colors, texture, shape, and embellishments. These clothes are sure to give any street style maven a real bang for their buck. 

Another relatively new brand for me, the collection of Life in Perfect Disorder was an excellent blend of wearable clothing along with an 'in-your-face' response to the political turmoil of today.

The presentation brought a certain attitude with it that evoked rebelliousness, optimism, and nonchalance to the very core in the clothes. This "Trump to Country: Drop Dead" tee sums the message up quite well.

After the guests of the NYMD presentations were finished viewing the afternoon slots, we were directed outside the space into a special event held by PROJECT entitled "Fashion In The Park." As Michael Jackson classics and Rick James' "Give it to Me Baby" blared from an immaculate rooftop arena with the perfect view of the Hudson River, I was joined by editors, bloggers, photographers, peers, and all of my fellow NYMD attendees as we viewed the collections of 5 more designers. 

Michael Bastian showcased modern menswear staples with his use of olive, navy, and grays in "key fabrications of linen blends, cotton mesh, suede, and cotton sateen." 

Very "boy-next-door" vibes came to mind as I can see plenty of the guys in my neighborhood growing up wearing these looks by the pool almost head to toe.

M. Singer is curated by former Neiman Marcus/Bloomingdales fashion director Matthew Singer.

The clothes are wearable and comfortable for the masses - ideal for a day of relaxation for any man.

WRK introduced a "painters series," drawing inspiration from whites and neutrals of blank canvases. 

Finally, Thaddeus O'Neil showcased a collection entitled "Ordinary Eternal Machinery," crafted from O'Neil's reading of Leonard Cohen's novel, Beautiful Losers. 

True to form, this collection was fun, colorful, vibrant, and continues to bring light to the designer's passion for western surfing culture.

After leaving the 10:30 - 12:00 morning slot of the New York Men's Day shows, I headed home to cook a quick lunch and refresh for the afternoon presentations. The next part of our story begins with a ride back into Manhattan on the L train to see the 4:30 - 6:00-afternoon slots.

See Day 1 Part 2 here...